DeGroot vows to remain in NJ-11 race

Former Assistant Passaic County Prosecutor Paul DeGroot said he will run in the June 7 Republican primary for Congress in New Jersey’s 11th district despite a fourth-place finish at the Morris County GOP convention last week.

DeGroot has already secured the organization line in Passaic County in his bid to take on Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) in the fall.

“Because of the confusing nature of the MCRC convention, I don’t think there is much anyone can take from the results of the event,” DeGroot stated.  “I’m moving on to the Primary, which will give me three months to address thousands of Republican voters in Morris, Essex and Passaic counties.”

Republican county committee members in Morris County will vote today and tomorrow on a second ballot to award the line in a face-off between Morris County Commissioner Tayfun Selen and former Kinnelon Council President Larry Casha.   Party officials sent people home around 12:15 AM, about six hours after the convention began, following problems with voting machines.

On Wednesday, Morris County Republicans spent more than an hour hearing an appeal from another candidate, U.S. Army veteran Toby Anderson, who argued  that the entire vote should be repeated as a result of problems.   Anderson had come within five voters of defeating Casha for the second runoff berth.  Party leaders turned him down.

Two other candidates have dropped out since last Friday: Larry Friscia, who received 14 votes, is backing Casha; and Robert Kovic, who recorded six votes, is backing Selen.

The Essex GOP line is widely expected to go to the winner of the Morris convention.